A Young Leader’s Mission for Change
At the age of 17, while many of his peers were scrolling through social media, Idris Bilyaminu Ndasadu’Lau had already set his sights on a greater purpose. He founded Connected Youth for Accountability, Peace and Development Initiative (YAPD4Africa), a Pan-African youth-led civil society organization in 2017. The organization’s mission is to build strong people and sustainable communities across Africa.
Idris grew up in a community where access to health services and youth participation in decision-making were lacking. This realization became the driving force behind his work. “What really motivated me was the lack of access to health and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities in my community, and also the fact that despite the high population of young people, they were often excluded from decision-making processes and community development issues,” he explained.
Community Engagement and Advocacy
YAPD4Africa focuses on community engagement, particularly in the areas of health, education, and WASH facilities. The organization also engages in civic education, policy advocacy, and youth empowerment projects. “We educate the youth on their rights and how they can actively engage in governance. We also work in hard-to-reach, marginalized grassroots communities in Nigeria,” Idris said. These are areas where government presence is minimal, except during elections.
The organization ensures these communities are included in their projects and connected with partners who can support them. Their efforts include constructing water supply systems, providing access to quality education, and meeting other basic needs. YAPD4Africa has implemented over eight projects in Nigeria, including Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and several other states.
Global Recognition and Impact
One of their projects was selected among the 100 best youth-led projects in the world. Idris recently returned from China, where the project was showcased. It has impacted over 5,000 people in Nigeria and Cameroon. Overall, the organization has impacted more than 20,000 lives across 100 communities in Nigeria.
Another initiative focused on promoting sanitary pads among rural women. “We discovered that many women cannot afford sanitary pads. So, we came up with a solution called Reusable Pads. We trained the women ourselves and sought funding to produce the pads,” Idris said. Initially funded from their own pockets, they later secured support from international partners like Connected Development and Share Yourself, who provided $1,000.
Challenges and Resilience
Running a non-profit organization at a young age has not been easy, especially without consistent funding. However, Idris has managed to overcome challenges by being consistent and leveraging his network and social media. “I was able to secure support from different places. Funding challenges still exist, but we are exploring local sources of support to sustain our work,” he said.
He credits his belief in his vision and the support of his parents for keeping him going. “My parents have always been proud of me. My father has been behind the camera supporting me for so long. He is here today, watching me during this interview, and I am very proud of that.”
Government Support and Advocacy
Despite his efforts, Idris has not received any direct support from the government. “Honestly, I have not received any support from the government in the eight years I’ve been doing this. I never reached out directly to the government because I don’t want to be entangled in politics,” he said. Instead, the organization documents the needs of the people and sends letters to the government.
Recently, they launched a project called Moria, which documented the voices of 14 communities still lacking education and basic needs. The findings were shared with the local government chairman to see how they could help those communities.
Empowering the Youth
Idris believes that providing networks and opportunities is crucial for empowering the youth. “For youths, one of the most important things is to provide them with networks and opportunities to grow,” he said. He is currently working with over 1,000 young people across Africa. Recently, they implemented a project in Jigawa State called the Local Accountability Watch Project, funded by the EU.
Over 400 youths applied for just 20 available slots, highlighting the widespread issue of unemployment. They selected 20 and trained them on how to engage governance and demand accountability at all levels.
Future Vision and Advice
Looking ahead, Idris hopes to see every community have access to basic facilities like education and health. “I believe these are fundamental human rights. I also want to see myself at decision-making tables where the needs of ordinary people are addressed and their voices are heard,” he said.
He also wants the world to know more about their work in amplifying the voices of grassroots communities and equipping young people with the skills to demand accountability and good governance. “These are the kinds of initiatives young people are capable of leading, and in many cases, they can do them even better than the older generation currently in leadership.”
Idris advises young people to be courageous. “Many believe money is everything, but money is not everything. What kept me going was courage and belief. My advice is for them to wake up. We are the future of Nigeria and Africa, and there is still so much for us to catch up with.”
Real-Life Impact
One of the beneficiaries of the project in Joga village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and also a youth leader, Abdulaziz Zubairu, shared his experience. “After the borehole was constructed, we barely used it because it broke down shortly after completion, and so we continued to face the problem of getting drinking water. But by the grace of God, when the YaPD4Africa came to this village, they repaired the borehole for us, and since then, we have been benefiting from it.”
“The young man who leads the organization has become like a brother to us in this village because of the good work he has done for us. In addition, they taught us the importance of helping one another without relying solely on the government at all times. That is why, a few days ago, when the borehole developed another fault, we (the villagers) contributed money and repaired it ourselves for our own benefit.”
